Which of the following statements is true?

• A. The municipal courts have specific authority to issue subpoenas for out-of-county witnesses.
• B. Court reporters must take an oath administered by the district clerk.
• C. A defendant can request in writing that a subpoena be served in person rather than by mail.
• D. If a peace officer serves a subpoena by mail, the subpoena can be mailed regular mail.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that court reporters must be sworn to perform their duties honestly and accurately, and the district clerk is the official who administers that oath. This oath formalizes the reporter’s role and binds them to faithfully record proceedings and preserve the court record, which is essential for the integrity of proceedings and any appeals. The district clerk administering the oath provides a consistent, official mechanism across courts for establishing the reporter’s authority and duty.

The other statements don’t fit standard practice. Municipal courts don’t have a special power to issue subpoenas for out-of-county witnesses; subpoenas are governed by applicable rules and typically stay within the court’s jurisdiction or follow established procedures for cross-jurisdiction issues. A defendant cannot unilaterally dictate the mode of service simply by writing a request; service must follow the court’s rules and procedures. And subpoenas served by mail generally require proper service (such as personal service or an approved mail method) rather than plain regular mail, to ensure the witness actually receives the notice.